Rep. Dave Vella

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Deletes language that provides that no construction shall commence on any new nuclear power plant to be located within the State, and no certificate of public convenience and necessity or other authorization shall be issued therefor by the Illinois Commerce Commission, until the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency finds that the United States Government has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste, or until such construction has been specifically approved by a statute enacted by the General Assembly. Provides that the Commission shall only issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity to a public utility operating or located within the State or to a company with a fossil fuel-based power generator. Provides that the Commission shall adopt rules concerning the granting of certificates of public convenience and necessity for the construction, purchase, or lease of small modular nuclear reactors. Provides requirements for the Commission to follow when adopting rules for the granting of certificates of public convenience and necessity for small modular nuclear reactors. Provides that the Commission may adopt emergency rules for the granting of certificates of public convenience and necessity for small modular nuclear reactors.

Congratulates Milestone, Inc. on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Thanks the organization for its continued devotion to providing living skills, safety, and leisure activities to the individuals it serves.

Amends the Industrial Hemp Act. Changes the short title of the Act to the Hemp Act. Permits the wholesale and retail sale of cannabinoids, hemp concentrate, or any other intermediate hemp cannabinoid products. Provides that no person shall offer or sell cannabinoid products, particularly packaged hemp products, to consumers in the State unless the person applies for and holds a hemp retailer license issued by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that no person shall sell ready-to-eat hemp products to end consumers without applying for and holding a hemp food establishment license issued by the Department of Public Health. Provides that no person shall sell cannabinoid product to any person under the age of 21 unless the person is a medical cardholder registered under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act. Provides that the Department of Agriculture may not limit the number of hemp farm licenses. Provides that no person shall cultivate or grow hemp for commercial purposes unless licensed by the Department of Agriculture and subject to the rules of the Department. Provides that hemp farms may not create hemp extractions without a processor license. Provides that hemp farms may not engage in retail sales without a hemp retailer license. Provides that hemp farms may not create hemp extractions without a processor license. Provides that hemp farms may not engage in retail sales without a hemp retailer license. Creates in the State treasury a special fund known as the Hemp Social Equity Fund. Provides that 25% of all moneys deposited into the Hemp Regulatory Fund shall be transferred into the Hemp Social Equity Fund. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2024, a tax is imposed upon purchases of all hemp cannabinoid products (hemp cannabinoid products for inhalation, hemp cannabinoid products for ingestion, and ready-to-eat hemp cannabinoid products) at a rate of 5% of the purchase price of the cannabinoid products. Defines terms. Preempts home rule powers. Amends the State Finance Act, Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, the Illinois Noxious Weed Law, the Cannabis Control Act, the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Unemployment Insurance Act. Provides that an individual shall be ineligible for benefits for a period totaling and not to exceed 2 weeks (rather than an individual shall be ineligible for benefits for any week) with respect to which it is found that his total or partial unemployment is due to a stoppage of work which exists because of a labor dispute at the factory, establishment, or other premises at which he is or was last employed. Provides that, after the 2 week period, the individual will be eligible for benefits.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that, in accordance with federal guidance issued by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall exempt from electronic visit verification requirements all live-in caregivers who provide Medicaid-funded personal care services or home health care services under the Illinois Title XIX State Plan or a waiver of the plan, including personal care services and home health care services provided under various home and community-based services waiver programs authorized under the Social Security Act. Defines "live-in caregiver". Grants the Department rulemaking authority. Effective immediately.

Amends the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.

Creates the Graduate and Retain Our Workforce Act. Establishes the GROW Illinois Program, in which public institutions of higher education award incentive loans to applicants. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission may, each year, administer applications for assistance under the GROW Illinois Program. Sets forth qualifications for recipients, degrees, and jobs. Provides for loan repayment and rulemaking. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (GROW) Illinois Fund as a special fund in the State treasury.

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the notice of the transfer of property that is exempt for orphanage, school, or religious purposes shall be filed with the county clerk (currently, the county recorder).

Amends the State Universities Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that for the purposes of computing service for academic years for any participant, one month of service means a calendar month during which the participant qualifies as an employee for any fraction of the month (instead of at least 15 or more days). Provides that the change applies to all service periods of a member who is a participant on or after January 1, 2024, except for certain service periods subject to purchases of service credit, repayment of a refund or distribution, or transfers of service if payment for such purchase, repayment, or transfer commenced prior to January 1, 2024. Provides that a provision concerning calculating a retirement annuity for a participant who has been employed at 1/2 time or less for 3 or more years shall not apply to a member who is a participant on or after January 1, 2024. Provides that any benefit increase that results from the amendatory Act is excluded from the definition of "new benefit increase". Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that specified Advisory Committees shall include one representative from the labor organization recognized as the exclusive representative of specified entities' employees. Provides that an EMS Medical Director may only suspend any EMS personnel, EMS Lead Instructor, individual, individual provider, or other participant considered not to be meeting the requirements of the Program Plan if the EMS Medical Director obtains agreement from the Department of Public Health. Allows arbitration meeting specified requirements as alternative dispute resolution procedures for EMS System licensing and makes conforming changes throughout the Act. Provides that a member of a fire department's or fire protection district's collective bargaining unit shall be eligible to work under a silver spanner program for another fire department EMS System that is not the full time employer of that member, for a period not to exceed 12 months, without being required to test into the EMS System of the fire department or fire protection district. Makes other changes.